Strip feeding apparatus



I NVENTOR Kf/V/Vff/f a HA/M'S R N EY May 1, 1956 K. D. HAINES STRIP FEEDING APPARATUS Filed March 15, 1951 2 sen M 3 United States Patent STRIP FEEDING APPARATUS Kenneth D. Haines, Dayton, Ohio, assignor to The Standardmlfiegister Company, Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of 0 Application March 15, 1951, Serial No. 215,834

6 Claims. (Cl. 197-133) This invention relates to strip feeding apparatus, and more particularly to such apparatus when applied to recording machines utilizing a pin type platen for the accurate alignment and positive feeding of record strip material.

For convenience of handling and support, the record strip is supplied in a pack, the strip being folded upon itself about transverse division lines to define such pack. The strip may be made up of multiple copies and is ordinarily a relatively stiff paper material. For these reasons, and further on account of the creases at the transverse fold lines, some difficulty may be experienced in causing the advancing strip to conform to the curvature of the platen for proper imprinting thereon, and in maintaining the marginal strip perforations in engagement with the pin wheel feed devices.

The object of the invention is to simplify the construction as well as the means and mode of operation of record strip feeding apparatus, whereby it may not only be economically constructed, but will be more efiicient in use, universal in application, uniform in action, have relatively few parts and be unlikely to get out of repair.

Another and more specific object of the invention is to provide retaining means arranged in embracing relation to the platen and strip thereon to hold the strip in uninterrupted intimate contact with the platen.

Still another object of the invention is to provide retaining means as described in the form of simple flexible bands detachably connected at their opposite ends to fixed elements of the machine.

A further object of the invention is to incorporate a resilient tensioning force in said bands and to provide for adjustability thereof.

A further object of the invention is to provide a strip feeding apparatus possessing the advantageous structural features and the inherent meritorious characteristics and mode of operation herein mentioned.

With the above primary and other incidental objects in view as will more fully appear in the specification, the invention intended to be protected by Letters Patent consists of the features of construction, the parts and combinations thereof, and the mode of operation, as hereinafter described or illustrated in the accompanying drawings, or their equivalents.

In the accompanying drawing, wherein is illustrated the preferred but obviously not necessarily the only form of embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a printing tabulator head embodying the instant invention;

Fig. 2 is a view in cross section through the platen and strip feeding apparatus; and

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of the pack support showing the tensioned retaining bands anchored thereto.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughout the several views.

The invention is disclosed for illustrative purposes as Patented May 1, 1956 lCC p the shaft 12. The platen shaft 12 is rotatably mounted in the frame 10 and is driven in a timed relation to the operation of the machine through suitably arranged gears housed in a box 14.

Secured to the platen roll 13, in longitudinally spaced relation to one another, is a pair of pin wheel feed devices 15 and 16, each including radially projecting pins 17. The feed devices are arranged for cooperative engagement with marginal perforations 18 in a continuous record strip 19. The strip 19 originates in a pack 20 of series connected forms, the strip 19 being folded upon itself about transverse weakened division lines to define the pack 20. A frame mounted support 21 holds the pack 20 on the top of the tabulator and rearwardly of the platen roll 13.

The leading end of the strip 19 extends from the pack toward the platen, being guided by a number of devices including a ledge 22 and lip 23 on the support 21, and an angle piece 24, around the underside of the platen roll 13 and up the front thereof where it is deflected rearwardly and upwardly by a friction roll shaft 25 and and an angle piece 26. The leading end of the strip accordingly presents a loop in embracing relation to the platen roll 13 and between the platen and the type bars 11. It will be understood that the perforations 18 in the margins of the strip are engaged by the pins 17 of the feed devices 15 and 16 with the result that the strip is advanced or fed in synchronism with rotation of the platen.

So that the strip 19 may continuously conform to the curvature of the platen, and maintain the interengagement of the pins 17 and perforations 18, flexible tensioned bands 27 and 28 are arranged in embracing relation to the platen roll and the strip thereon. The bands 27 and 28 are arranged alongside respective feed devices 15 and 16 and are anchored at their ends so as to present a loop in substantially overlying parallel relation to the loop in the leading end of the strip. One end of each band 27 and 28 is detachably connected to the shaft 25. The opposite ends thereof are connected through a coil spring 29 to a cross rod 31 selectively installed in notched supporting brackets 32 secured to the pack support 21. The length of the bands 27 and 28 is, of course, such that when stretched between their terminal anchors, the bands are drawn up tightly against the platen roll 13, pressing the strip 19 firmly thereagainst. The coil springs 29 introduce a yielding tension into the bands 27 and 28, which tension is variable in accordance with the selection of notches in the brackets 32 to receive the cross bar 31.

The bands 27 and 28 are in the illustrated instance flat strips of a flexible but unyielding metal. As such, the coil springs 29 may be readily attached to the one end thereof, while hooks 33 may be easily secured to the opposite ends thereof to be engaged over the shaft 25. It will be apparent, however, that a ribbon or other tfexible or resilient material may be substituted for use as the retaining bands.

From the above description it will be apparent that there is thus provided a device of the character described possessing the particular features of advantage before enumerated as desirable, but which obviously is susceptible of modification in its form, proportions, detail construction and arrangementof parts without departing frointhe principleinvolved or sacrificingany, of. its ad: vantages.

While in order to comply with the statute the invert" tion-ihas beenvdescribeddn language more or less specific as to structural features, tit-is to 'be..-understoodthat the invention is not limited =to the. specific: features shown, but that the means and construction hereindisclosed comprise -butfoneofseveralmodesof-t putting the invention into effect Having .thus. described my; invention-,1 claim:

1: In-atypewritingor. like machine, a frame, a platen supported in :said frame forrotary motion, a support for a pack of record, forms; said vforms being interconnected as .'a continuousistrip folded about transverse-division linesto definei-the pfack; guide: meansover which the leading end of the strip extends to the underside'of the platenfrornttherear thereof, the strip: being passedupwardlyand around the'front of theplaten and projecting rearwardlyover the topthereof, strip feeding; devices on-the platen engaging the stripfor unison advancement thereof with rotationrof' the platen; one or more flexible-bands anchored at their ends to provide a loop in substantiallysurroundingi relation to the front and under surfaces of the platen and to. the strip material thereon and a spring; incorporated in each of said bands imparting ai tension:the11eto causingthe strip to conform to the curvature of the platen.

2.1n atypewriting orlikemachine, a frame, a platen supported in saidframe for rotary motion, pin Wheel feed-devices occupying longitudinallyspaced apart positions on said'platerna support rearwardly of the platen for atpack of recordforms, said forms. being interconnected as a continuous strip folded about transverse division lines to. define thev pacldguide means for the leading end. of the strip providinga loop therein in em bracingrelation to the platen, said. strip having longitudinal perforations engaged by. said pin feed devices for advancementof the strip. in synchronism with rotation of the platen, a flexible band. adjacent to each pin feeddevice in outer or overlyingrelation to the strip, and mounting connections for the ends of said bands providing, a loop drawnup tightly against the platen to cause the strip to. conform to the curvature thereof.

3'. In a typewriting or like machine, a frame, a platen supportedin-saidi frame forrotary motion, a pair of longitudinally spaced apart pin wheel feed devices on said platen, a support rearwardly of the. platen for a pack of record forms, said'forms being interconnected as a continuous strip folded'ab'outtransverse'division lines to define'thepack, .the leading end of said strip? extending forwardly from said" support" andbeing guided in a loop around the platen, said strip having marginalperforations. engaged. by, ai pin. tee .v devic s for. d nc ment of the strip in synchronism with rotation of the platen, a band of flexible but relatively unyielding material anchored at its one end to said support and extending in substantially parallel relation to the strip toward and around the platen in overlying relation to the platen, an anchor for the opposite endof the band, and means for drawing said band" up tightly-aupon r thea platen to cause the strip to conform to the curvature of the platen, there being apair of suelr bands andlast named means, one in adjacentrelation to'each-pinWheel.fed device.

4-. A typewriting Lon-like machine.according-ttotzclaim 3, characterized in that said last named means comprises a coil spring interposedbetweemoneend of the band and its place of attachment, said spring being stretched by the anchoring of the opposite end of the band to impart tension to theband.

5. In a typewriting or likemachine, a frame,-,a..platen. rotatably mounted in the frame,.a.support.for awpack, of record forms,.said\ forms being interconneetedtasna. continuous strip folded about transverse division lines. to. define the pack, the leadingend of. said stripbeing guided' in a loop around said platen,.strip feedingdevices on. the platen engagingv the strip for. unison. advancement. thereof withrotation of the platen, andfiexibletensioned bands looped about saidfplaten and holding th'e leading. end of the strip in intimate contact with the, platen.

6. in a typewriting or like machine, a stationaryframel a platen supported in said'frame for rotary motion,,a cross rod in parallel substantially, overlyingrelation to. said platen, at least onev flexiblepaper conforming-band, one end of which is anchoredtotsaidfrod, saidband extending downwardly over and. around the. front and' bottom of said platen toward. the rear thereof, an anchor. for the other end of said band spaced rearwardly of said platenv and elevated relatively to the. horizontal plane of the bottom of said platen, anda coil springinterconnecting saidl other end of'saidi band to said" anchor.

References Cited in the file of thispatent- UNITED STATES PATENTS' 560,163 Heath May 12, 1896.-

854,478 Ford .May- 2l', 19.07 1,426,804 Adams Aug; 22, 1922; 1,875,917 Ens .Sept; 6, 1922: 2,174,357 Anderson Sept. 26;.193-9; 2,278,820 Anderson Apr. 7; 19.42 2,318,020 Sherman etzalt May 4;.19L4 3-. 2,364,087 Metzner Dec. 5-, 1944 

